Starbucks Japan adds a salty limited-edition Frappuccino to its menu for summer

New yellow-and-blue beverage is designed to look and taste like a day at the beach. 

As summer continues to sizzle in Japan, Starbucks continues to bring out new limited-edition Frappuccinos to help us cope with the enduring heat. Now, the chain is serving up its third major release of the season, and just like the banana and peach drinks that came before it, this one is also a fruity concoction, with the star of the show being pineapple.

▼ A sunshine pineapple, to be exact.

8/7(水)、『#サンシャインパインフラペチーノ®』が新登場
すっきり爽やかなパイナップルの味わいと、シーソルトジェリーのぷるぷる食感が楽しめる一杯

8/5-6は、#スターバックスリワード 会員のみなさまに先行販売も

輝く太陽の下、このフラペチーノ®︎と夏体験を楽しみませんか pic.twitter.com/BPrkjuGRvN

— スターバックス コーヒー (@Starbucks_J) July 31, 2024

This is the first pineapple-flavoured Frappuccino to be released by the chain since 2021, and it mixes things up by containing a special sea salt jelly that’s said to be perfect for midsummer. The main body of the drink contains a sweet-and-tart pineapple juice for a hit of fruity refreshment, while the base contains sea salt jelly for a fun contrast in taste and texture.

The salty pineapple flavours will whisk your taste buds away to a tropical beach, and the appearance will too, because the bright yellow pineapple portion of the drink is designed to conjure up images of golden sand, while the blue jelly portion is reminiscent of the sea.

▼ Up top is a mound of whipped cream to represent the clouds in the sky.

It’s the next best thing to kicking back on a sandy beach, as the drink is designed to help stir up the same sense of fun and excitement as a day out on the beach in midsummer. We’ve got to admit, the drink does look like it’ll dazzle the eyes under the hot summer sun, and we can’t wait to try it when it’s released nationwide from 7 August. Available until 3 September, the new Frappuccino will be priced at 678 yen (US$4.53) for takeout or 690 yen for dine-in customers.

Source, images: Press release 
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Hayao Miyazaki-illustrated T-shirt coming to Uniqlo…but not as part of Ghibli collection

Uniqlo’s first-ever for-Japan Ghibli clothing is on the way.

Uniqlo has teamed up with a lot of popular anime creators for clothing lines. Just right now, as a matter of fact, they’ve got both One Piece and Pokémon T-shirts in stock.

But it wasn’t until last year that Uniqlo collaborated for the first time with Studio Ghibli. Surprisingly, Uniqlo’s Ghibli line has only been available in Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan so far. Now there’s finally a Ghibli T-shirt coming to Uniqlo stores in Japan, with artwork drawn by Hayao Miyazaki no less…though not as part of a Ghibli clothing collection.

Uniqlo’s latest T-shirt partnership is instead with Japanese musician Kenishi Yonezu. The singer-songwriter and visual artist has contributed songs to a number of anime and video game projects, including “Spinning Globe”/”Chikyugi,” the ending theme song of Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s latest theatrical anime, The Boy and the Heron.

For the Kenishi Yonezu line, Uniqlo has produced a “Spinning Globe” shirt using the single’s cover/key art illustration, a layout draft drawn by Hayao Miyazaki himself, which depicts The Boy and the Heron’s protagonist Mahito seated at his desk and reading How Do You Live?, a novel left to him by his late mother which shares its title with the anime movie’s Japanese-language release.

▼ The linework pops a little better with the shirt against a dark background, like in Uniqlo’s announcement tweet.

日本を越え、世界で活躍し続ける米津玄師。​
彼が手がけるジャパンカルチャーがUTコレクションとして帰ってきた。​

9月中旬販売予定。​https://t.co/VCACB3Uqjo#米津玄師UT #LOSTCORNER​ #ユニクロ pic.twitter.com/TyerTM72w0

— ユニクロ (@UNIQLO_JP) July 31, 2024

The rest of the lineup features artwork drawn by Yonezu, such as this illustration of Torgal from Final Fantasy XVI, for which Yonezu sang the Japanese-language theme song “Tsuki Wo Miteita-Moongazing”…

…Chainsaw Man, connected to Yonezu through the opening theme “Kick Back”…

…and Ultraman, whose Shin Ultraman movie also has a Yonezu-sung theme song, “M87.”

Rounding out the six-shirt collection are tees with the cover art from Yonezu’s PlayStation commercial-featured “Pop Song”…

…and Yonezu’s most recently released album, Stray Sheep.

The entire lineup goes on sale at Uniqlo Japan stores in mid-September, with each shirt priced at 1,990 yen (US$12.85).

Source: PR Times
Top image: Studio Ghibli
Insert images: PR Times, press release
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Summer survival tip! Muji lets you fill water bottles for free, even if you didn’t buy them there

Even most Japanese shoppers aren’t aware of this cool free service.

Mujirushi Ryohin, also known as Mujirushi for short, or Muji for even shorter, is a store that sells…well, just about everything. They’re best known for their affordable, high-quality furniture and clothing selections, but Mujirushi also offers a full range of housewares, travel goods, toiletries, and even food and drinks.

A particularly handy item to pick up at Mujirushi these days is one of their reusable water bottles. The models above are all reasonably priced, ranging from 190 to 990 yen (US$1.25 to US$6.40), and in a clever bit of marketing, they’re usually displayed next to an in-store water refill station. Since you can refill your Mujirushi water bottle for free, it’ll essentially pay for itself after a few uses, since it’s saving you the cost of having to buy regular bottled water from Mujirushi’s drink section.

But here’s something a lot of people aren’t aware of: free water refills aren’t a perk that Mujirushi offers to customers who’ve purchased one of the store’s water bottles. Free water is something that Mujirushi offers to everyone. As long as you’ve got a water bottle, you’re welcome to fill it up at Mujirushi’s refill station, regardless of where you purchased your container.

This is something that most shoppers in Japan aren’t aware of, but it’s actually been the case since 2020, when Mujirushi first started installing in-store water refill stations, under their goal of being kind to the environment by reducing plastic waste and to help customers stay healthily hydrated.

▼ Mujirushi’s water refill station announcement video

Many people assume, though, that the water refill stations are for use with Mujirushi-brand water bottles only. With a scorching heat wave bringing dangerously dehydrating conditions to Japan this summer, though, Mujirushi has put out a reminder through its official TikTok account, letting everyone know once and again that as long as you’ve got a bottle, there’s water waiting for you, with no charge, at the refill station.

@muji_jp

誰でも自由に使える、お店の給水機 無印良品の一部の店舗では、プラスチックごみ削減の一環として「給水サービス」を実施しています。 マイボトルを持参すれば、誰でも自由に店内の給水機を使用可能。 お店ではくり返し使える『自分で詰める水のボトル』を販売しているほか、手持ちの水筒やマグの利用もできます。 給水機の取り扱い店舗数は430店舗以上で、随時拡大中。 店内に給水機を導入し、マイボトルを持参される方が増え、環境や健康について考えるきっかけとなることを目指しています。 プラスチックごみ削減の一歩として、まずは1日1本でも空のペットボトルを減らすことから始めてみませんか。 ※一部、給水機の設置がない店舗もあります。水プロジェクト特集ページ内で確認してください #無印良品 #MUJI #水分補給 #給水機 #お水 #水筒 #マイボトル

♬ オリジナル楽曲 – MUJI無印良品 – MUJI無印良品

▼ Currently more than 430 Mujirushi branches in Japan have water refill stations, with a complete list here

The refill stations are easy to use, with multilingual signage walking you through the steps. Simply tap the button for chilled or room-temperature water, select how much water you want, and hit the button with a picture of a water drop to dispense it.

Oh, and if you want to pick up some of Mujirushi’s powdered tea packets for a few hundred yen and stir one into your free water refill, that’s OK too.

But if you’re fine with just water, Mujirushi is just fine with giving it to you for free.

Source: Muirushi Ryohin via IT Media
Top image ©SoraNews24
Insert images: Mujirushi Ryohin, YouTube/MUJI 無印良品, Mujirushi Ryohin (2)
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Buy a Japanese ambulance, pachinko machine or samurai sword at this government auction site

Weird and wonderful treasures you won’t find anywhere else, and at shockingly low prices.

If you’re in the market for an unusual memento from Japan, you might want to skip the flea markets and sign up for a government auction. Not a lot of people know about it, but KSI Kankouchou Auction (KSI Government Auction) is a website where you can bid on a wide variety of surprising goods, put up for sale by government and municipal offices around the country.

Once you see what’s on offer, you’ll be amazed at what you can pick up, and all at amazingly low prices.

▼ Take this auction from Hachioji City, for example.

Yes, that is, in fact, a Fist of the North Star pachinko machine, and with one day left on the auction, which started at 1,000 yen (US$6.64), the highest bid is currently 1,600 yen.

▼ It’s in great condition too.

Not into Fist of the North Star? No worries, there are plenty of other pachinko machines being auctioned. But if pachinko isn’t for you, how about a manhole cover from Fukaya City in Saitama Prefecture?

▼ The manhole cover features an image of Fukka-chan, the city’s mascot, and bidding starts at 10,000 yen.

Looking for something small and cuddly? Then this special X Japan Hello Kitty from Nagano City might tickle your fancy.

▼ The Yoshikitty has one day left on the auction and is currently going for 1,100 yen.

Some of the most surprising auctions involve vehicles, and not the kind that regular citizens are usually able to purchase.

▼ This ambulance from Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture, has a starting bid of 618,900 yen.

Used by the city until 2020, this ambulance doesn’t come with the red light or siren, and all the writing on the outside was removed after the photos were taken, but it does come with all the equipment inside.

▼ Bidding on this fire engine from Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture, starts at 200,000 yen.

▼ Pump included.

▼ This two-tonne garbage truck hails from Sennan City, Osaka Prefecture.

▼ Bidding starts at 500,000 yen, and the winner is required to remove the words and art on the outside of the truck after purchase.

The auctions also cover land and property, with one standout being a massive golf course in Mie Prefecture with a starting bid of 140,910,000 yen ($938,883).

Finally, we have an unusual item from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government — a wakizashi, which, despite having a starting bid of 27,000 yen, has currently reached 89,000 yen, with 29 bids and one day left in the auction.

Wakizashi are short swords that were worn by samurai, and this one has the kanji “備前国則光” (“Bizen no kuni Norimitsu”) inscribed on the nakago, with “Bizen no kuni” referring to Bizen Province, located in present-day Okayama Prefecture).

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also auctioning off another wakizashi, which is proving to be slightly more popular, having attracted 54 bids and reaching a price of 116,500 yen with one day left in the auction.

This sword is attributed to “肥前出羽守行廣” (“Hizen Dewanokami Yukihiro”), with Hizen being an old province in modern-day Saga and Nagasaki prefectures, and the “一” (“ichi” or “one”) above the peg hole indicating “first generation”.

Like all the government auctions on the KSI Government Auction website — there are currently 1,497 auctions in progress — information on the history of the items is limited and formal appraisals and inspections haven’t been conducted, so bidders should proceed with caution and always read the fine print.

However, with prices being so low, sometimes the reward is worth the risk, so if you’re interested in trying your luck, you’ll need to register on the site and fill out an application form for your desired auction before bidding takes place, and be in Japan to either pick the item up or have it sent to you in Japan at your own cost, depending on the auction. It’s a fun way to pick up an unusual treasure, as long as you’re careful not to pick up a cursed katana.

Source: KSI Government Auction via Net Lab
Featured image: Pakutaso
Insert images: KSI Government Auction (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Photos ©SoraNews24
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Cat Lover’s Ramen: Do these instant noodles taste like…cat?

Miso Meow-men will make your tail curl in delight.

There are a lot of different instant ramen options for noodle lovers in Japan, but did you know there’s a variety for cat lovers too?

Called “Neko Suki You Ramen” (“Ramen for Cat Lovers“), this unusual product is part of the Kirimaru ramen series from Aichi-based noodle manufacturers Ogasawara Seifun. Both the noodles and the broth are made in Japan, and there are four varieties to choose from: “Tom Nyam” (“Nya” is the Japanese word for “meow“), Wafuu Tonkotsu (“Japanese-style Tonkotsu”), “Miso Nyan Men” (“Miso Meow Noodles”), and “Fuu Fuu Nya Udon” (“fuu fuu” is the sound of blowing on something to cool it down).

▼ The gorgeous, brightly coloured packs stand out at stores that sell them, and at this particular store they retailed for 258 yen (US$1.68) each.

With the meow-ful names and cat and pawprint images on the pack, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was some type of special ramen for cats, but rest assured — these noodles are for human consumption.

▼ Inside, there are dried noodles and soup, so nothing out of the ordinary here.

However, the name “Ramen for Cat Lovers” is a bit dubious. After all, “Ramen for Pork lovers” would suggest the noodles taste like pork, so does that mean this ramen tastes like…cat?

▼ Well, there’s only one way to find out.

Placing the noodles in a pot of boiling water, these are super easy to make, requiring nothing more than the addition of the broth sachet before serving. The broth contains Hatcho miso, a less-sweet miso that’s characteristically darker, thicker and stronger in flavour, so once it’s blended into the dish it’s similar to the miso ramen you’d get at a Chinese restaurant.

Usually, this type of ramen has a distinctive spiciness, but in this case the mixture was mellow. While critics might argue that the flavour of the broth could be stronger and richer, when you think about it, the mellow, laid-back character of the meal was actually a better match for the image of a cat.

This wasn’t a meal for tiger lovers, after all — it was designed for cat lovers, who like to feel cosy and relaxed in feline company, and that’s exactly what this ramen serves up.

So, thankfully, this “Ramen for Cat Lovers” doesn’t taste like cat, but it does have a warming, satisfying flavour that helps you relax and unwind in the same way as petting an animal would.

▼ Reading the fine print on the back of the pack reveals another reason why this meal is for cat lovers.

▼ “A portion of the purchase price of this product will be used for animal protection activities”.

Awwwww. So not only do ramen lovers benefit from this product, cats do too. It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone, which cats would no doubt be in favour of, so next time you’re browsing the shelves at a Japanese supermarket, be sure to keep an eye out for the Ramen for Cat Lovers. It’s a lot better than this ramen for lovers of poisonous blowfish!

Related: Rakuten
Photos ©SoraNews24
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